Snowplow



Nov. 2, 1943. H. B. CHURCHILL 2,333,360

SNOW PLOW 7 Filed April 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

55 HOW/1E0 B. CHURCH/LL. ma By J ATTORNEYS Nov. 2, 1943. H. B.C-HURCHILL SNOW PLOW 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30 INVENTOR.HOW/4E0 E CHURCH/LL.

ATTORNEYS 1943- H. B. CHURCHILL 2,333,360

SNOW PLOW Filed April 30, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 3 r yzlz. 13

. INVENTOR.

Hon/A R05- CHURCH/LL.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STAT ES eare .;2,333,360

SN'OWPL'OW Howard. 7B.. Churchi1l,.Rye, .N..

Application 30, 1942;Seflil3lodl41i086 15 Claims.

This invention relates to snow plows and more particularly to snow plowconstructions ofatype adapted to be detachably applied to bumpers "ofcommon types of automobiles.

Snow plows of such a type, in order to becon- ,1

veniently used when occasionally requiredby the usual driver of 'anautomobile, should preferably be so constructed as to be readilyattachedwithin a few minutes or less,-andpreferably without requiringthe use of tools. Furthermore, theplow should be collapsible sothat'it'may be stowed in small spaces such as available'in' private garages,and with its parts still connected, to'prevent loss thereof. Also whenapplied to the ordinary automobile in use, there should-'be'nodanger-"of injury to the car, or injury to driveways, etc., through anytendencyof the plow to dig into the ground or any failure to passoverminor obstructions. The present invention provides'inexpensive practicalconstructions fulfilling these requirements and at the same time adaptedto be so connected to an automobile bumper that the vehicle is able totransmit a powerful forward thrust to the plow, the plow also-beingso-connected to the bumpenas to be capable of resisting powerfulsidewise and diagonal stresses which occur when following. a curvedpath,'and"when a plowed area is being widened, .at" whioh'time muchgreater forces are applied to one side of the plow than the other.

Various further and more specific objects,'features and advantages ofthe invention will clearly appear from the detailed description givenbelow taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which formapart of this specification and illustrate by way of example certainprelierred forms of the invention. The invention consists in such novelfeatures and combinations as may be shown and described in connectionwith the apparatus herein disclosed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a; plan view showing one form of theinvention .as applied to .anautomobile bumper;

Figs. 2 and 3 are side and. rear elevational views of the constructionof Fig-1;

Fig. 4 showsthesameconstruction when collapsed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the forward. portion of the plow;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged 'detailed'view of-such forward portion-with theplow: wings ormold boards in extended position ready -for use;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to'Fig; 6,-but-showing the mold boards incollapsed" positions;

Fig. 8 iSaI'PBT-SPEGt-llle view ore: runner *for the forward endof' theplow;

*Figj 9 is a secticnal view" taken' 'substantially along the line'9*9-of"Fig'.8

"Figs;"'10 and lI"respectively are perspectlveand sid'eviewspf' anotherform-of "runner" construction; the latter view showing the manner ofat-'tacliing' this'fornrof rimner;

"Figs." Hand 13 are erfiarge'd" detailed views-of the"*bumper"connecting means and mtild-b-oard brace'connections for-the plow inFigul; and

1'4 is "a "perspective v'iew"of" an alternative embodimentnftheinvention.

Referring now moreispeci'fically 'to""F 'ig.' l the front'erid ofa'rnotonvehicle towhich theplow is to be attached is 'shown' atiii-'with a'iront bumper lfi'of a'wellknownitype. While "inthedrawingsthe "plow is shown 'as attached-to the front bumper; 'tofbe usedforplowing whenthe automobile is "'driven forwardly, it will" be"understood that thezsarne' constructionsmay be 'sirnilarly applied" ifdesired, to"the' rear bumper (for usewhen backing the. automobile.Thebumper 'I'BLas shownxis of'the'c'onventiona'ltype having endportions. as at l1;.'whichicurveoutwardlyand rearwardly or toward thevehicle. These portions are secured to the vehiclebybraces'as'. at 18designed tobe bolted in'the usualway to the rear surfacesof the bumperends.

The snow plow includes :a pai'r "of'rno'ld "boards as at 9,123, madef'orexample of plywood-arid interconnected at; theinforward .ends 'by' hingemeans hereinafter described, whereby .the'tjboards maybe positioned on'edgein either an adjustable V formation 'as shown "in"Fig.."1,oribrought into generally parallel re'lati'on as ."shown I'Fig. 4 withspacing therebetween sufficient to accommodate the connecting andbracing ineans"when collapsed.

As shown in Figf'Z; themold boardsarereach of. a widthto normallyextendf'from adj'acentthe ground 'toa height somewhat-above the, bumper,and the"insidetsurface"areas o'fthe re'arip'orti'ons ofthe boards-are,"as'shcwrr inFig. lyadapted to extend outwardly andrea'rwa'rclly'substantially tangentially pastthe-curvedbmnperendsrespectively. This"relationship make's it -possibie to position inside" surfaceareas-of*the-'boards-close to" the bumper-- ends'so that theboards'm-ay beconveniently secured to the bmnper by simple forms of connecting "meanscapizbleb'f "rigidly transmitting'forward thrustsgand avith connectingmeans --at the-two ends -of the lemnper acting conioin t'ly' withtI-re'tri-angular formblt'ion or the -'-plow, Y to rigidly resist thesi'dewise uses of the bumper.

diagonal stresses applied to the plow in use. This relationship has afurther important advantage in that the bumper attaching means may besecured usually without the necessity of drilling any new holes throughthe bumper or without depending upon any clamping means. That is, withthis arrangement the bolt which secures the bumper brace I8 may beremoved and simply replaced by an eyebolt 2|, as more clearly shown inFigs. 12 and 1 3. This may be done when the plow is first acquired andpreferably at some time prior to the intended use of the plow.Ordinarily no other change need be made to the vehicle or bumperconstruction in order to prepare the same for quick application of theplow when needed. The eyebolts may be relatively small and theprotruding rounded eyelet portions thereof will not materially interferewith the normal The eyebolts further may be used to permanently securethe bumper braces I8 to the bumper. This attaching arrangement has astill further advantage in connection with the collapsible forms ofplows shown, having the mold boards hinged together at the forward ends.That is, the arrangement permits the V formation of the plow to beadjustable at the forward hinge, thus allowing the rear ends of the moldboards to be readily attached by the same means, to bumpers of differentwidths or bumpers on which the spacing between the brace bolts maydiffer.

The parts of the. bumper attaching means which are carried by the moldboards will now be described in further detail, particularly inreference to Figs. 12 and 13. A removable pin 22 for extending throughthe eyelet of one of the eyebolts 2| may be slidably received in a pairof members as at 23, 24, these members being in the form of simple hingeelements formed with apertures at one end for receiving the pin, andbeing secured as by bolts or rivets 25 to an inside surface area of themold board preferably just in advance of the end of the bumper.Preferably these hinge elements are so applied as shown, to hold the pin22 in a position tilted slightly in a forward direction at the top. Thisis for the purpose of avoiding any tendency for the rear ends of themold boards to rise when forward thrust is applied to the pin 22 by theeyebolt 2|.

In order to normally hold the rear ends of the mold boards in slightlyspaced relation to the ground, a strap as at 26 or other adjustablemeans capable of withstanding considerable tension is applied, with oneend secured as by an eyelet 21 to the shank of the eyebolt 2|, andhaving its other end attached to the mold board as by an eyebolt 28 orother suitable means. This strap will therefore serve to normally carrythe weight of the rear end of the mold board, yet in case the lower edgeof the mold board should encounter an obstruction or raised area on theground,'the mold board will still be free to rise by the sliding of thepin 22 upwardly with respect to eyebolt 2|. If desired, any such risingof the rear ends of the mold boards may be resisted by a tensionedhelical spring 29 secured at its upper end as by eyelet member 30mounted on the top inside face of the mold board, the lower end of thespring 29 being preferably attached through a. short adjustable chain 3|to an eyelet -32 embracing the shank of eyebolt 2|. Thus when the rearend of the mold board tends to rise either by engagement with someobstruction on the ground or by reason of any transverse tilting forcesapplied to the other side of the plow, the

tension of spring 29 will be increased thereby resisting further risingof the mold board and also serving to promptly pull down the mold board(if its rear end has been forced up), back to a position with its loweredge normally slightly spaced from the ground, as determined by theadjustment of strap 26. If it is desired to have the rear ends of themold boards slide on the ground, the straps 26 may of course be omitted.Also if no troublesome tendency is encountered for the rear end of themold boards to rise out of position, the spring members 29 may beomitted.

'It will be apparent that with the above der 21 and 32 for attaching thestrap and spring may be quickly unhooked from the eyebolt 2|. The plowmay then be collapsed to the position shown in Fig. 4, for compactstorage either by resting the mold boards along their lower edgesagainst the floor, or if desired, the collapsed plow may be stood on endwiththe normally vertical rear edges 33 forming stable floor-engagingsupports. To again apply the plow to the vehicle, it is merely necessaryto adjust the mold boards in front of or tothe rear of the vehicle tothe approximate v formation desired, whereupon attaching means as abovedescribed, at one end of the bumper may be quickly connected in a mannerwhich will be apparent from Fig. 12. Then the position of the other moldboard may be quickly adjusted, using the connection already applied as apivot about which to properly adjust the position of the plow withrespect to the other end of the bumper, whereupon similar attachingmeans at the other bumper end may be applied. Thus it will beunnecessary to use any tools either for setting up or attaching the plowto the bumper, and merely by spreading the rear ends of the mold boardsmore or less, they may be connected to bumpers of different widths. Itwill be apparent that the eyebolts 2| being rigidly secured to thebumper, and in fact directly secured also to the bumper braces iii, arewell adapted to transmit forward thrust from the frame of the automobileto the plow, yet

without requiring one to get access to the vehicle frame underneath thecar when attaching or removing the plow. Furthermore, while the forwardthrust to the plow is normally applied rigidly, yet if the plow shouldmeet with any unexpectedobstruction covered by the snow, the normalresilience of the bumper ends and braces will come into use and permitof enough resilience between the plow and the automobile frame toprevent breaking or bending of either; The pin and eyelet connection tothe bumper has the further important advantages of permitting the rearends of the plow to rise somewhat when necessary to pass overobstructions andalso if obstructions are met with by intermediateportions of the mold boards tending to bend the same transversely, thenthe pin and eyelet connections will act as hinge means permitting enougharticulation, upon such bending, to avoid danger of breaking off theconnecting means to the bumper. It will be apparent that the hingelikeconnections further facilitate the adjustability of the plow for varioustypes and sizes of bumpers and permit the connection to be made at oneside of the vehicle without requiring the connection at the other sideto be first brought into exact alignment, or until after the first sideis connected. Although both of the bumper connections are in the natureof hinges, as is also the connection at the forward end of the moldboards, to be hereinafter described, yet due to the triangular formationof the plow in conjunction with the bumper, it is able effectively toresist sidewise and diagonal stresses by making use of the bumper ineffect as a rigid transverse strut, notwithstanding the hingeconnections.

The structure at the forward end or point of the plow will now beexplained in further detail, more particularly in connection with Figs.-9. A nose piece 35 formed for, example of welded sheet metal parts,preferably has a V-shaped cross section as shown to provide a verticallyextending channel-like member protecting the forward ends of the moldboards 19, 20, and also protecting hinges as at 3B, 31, which providethe adjustable front hinge connection or" the mold boards. The member 35preferably includes generally horizontally extending upper and lowersector-shaped web members as at 38, 3%. These web members may beapertured to receive pintle means as at 40 for the hinges 3B, 31'.

The hinges 3B, 31 are preferably formed with angularly shaped leavesbolted to the forward edges of the mold boards as shown in Figs. 6 and7, and including portions offset inwardly of the faces of the moldboards for'receiving the pintle means. With hinges of this type, as isapparent from Figs. 6 and 7, when the mold boards are in V formationready for use, the outer surfaces thereof at their forward ends will beadjacent to or bear against the inner surfaces of the nose piece,thereby limiting the nose piece against any substantial pivotal movementfrom side to side. On the other hand, when the mold boards are moved tocollapsed position, as may be readily done while the nose piece stillremains connected, the inner faces of the mold boards will be spacedapart a suitable distance to accommodate the bumper connecting means, aswell as other bracing and stay elements hereinafter described, yetpermitting the mold boards to assume a parallel relationship whencollapsed.

As will be further apparent from Figs. 6 and 7 in order to permit theplow to be both opened up and collapsed while keeping the nose piecepivotally attached by the hinge pintle means, it will be necessary toposition the hinge pintle means at a point spaced from both of theinside walls of the nose piece by distances permitting the forward edgesof the mold boards to have clearance with respect to the nose piece, atall times except when the mold boards are at their extreme Vrelationship.

Since the weight of the forward portion of the plow is intended to bearupon the ground, rather than the vehicle, it is preferable to provide arunner as at 4| beneath the nose piece. This runner should be of a widthand length sufficient to support the plow without substantially sinkinginto the earth when in relatively firm condition. However, the runnershould not be large enough to cause it to ride up on top of relativelyfirm snow. Instead, it is intended that the runner will normally diginto the snow and support the forward end of the plow with its loweredges at about the same distance from the ground as the lower edges ofthe rear ends of the mold boards, as supported by th bumper connections.Thus, thebumper connections and the runner effectively provide athree-point support for the triangular structure of the plow, yet

each Of these three supporting points is such as to permit thecorresponding portion Of the plow to rise when meeting withobstructions,.without tending to break any other portion. The runner 4!may be provided with attaching bolts as at 42 welded therein in a mannershown in Fig. 9. These bolts may be secured as shown in Fig. 5 to theforward and rear end of an attached strip 43, which in turn may bewelded to. the lower surface of the web 38 of the nose piece. Washers orother suitable variable spacing means as at 44 may be interposed betweenthe runner and the member 43. In some cases it may be found preferableto use a runner of the type shown at 4| in Figs. 10 and 11, having asingle pivotal connection at the lower forward corner of the nose piece.This pivotal connection may comprise for example a hinge plate as at 45welded to the lower surface of the nose piece and associated with aremovable pintle bolt 46, which extends through lugs as at 41 upstandingfrom the runner.

When the plow is used along a hillside or when it is used to widen aplowed area, quite heavy sidewise and diagonal stresseswill be appliedto one of the mold boards, particularly. along its lower edge, and thestresses oftentimes will be' much greater than stresses whichare beingapplied at the same time to the other mold board. For working underthese circumstances, particularly with heavy snows, it is preferable toprovide additional bracing and stay means between the mold boardsintermediate their ends and particularly at their lower edges. As shownin Figs. 1-3, such means may for example take the form of a pair ofcomplementary brace members as at 50, 5| secured in adjustableoverlapping relationship as by bolts 52 adapted to fit through severaldifferent holes as at 53 (Fig. 3). These brace members, which maycomprise strips of wood, may be secured to the mold boards respectivelyby hinge mean as at 54, 55 preferably of a type which will permit thebraces upon removal of bolts 52 to be folded forwardly when the plow iscollapsed. When the braces are collapsed in this direction, they willnot interfere with the use of the rear edges 33 of the mold boards asfloor-engaging supports for the plow when it is stood on end forstorage. is collapsed, the mold boards will serve to cover and protectthese braces and their hinge members against possible breaka e ordetachmentf If excess transverse forces are applied to the lower edge ofone mold board, it will be apparent that the braces 50, 5| will serve toapply such forces to the lower edge of the other mold board so that thelower edge of one board will reinforce the other, and thereby tend toprevent any twisting action on the rear portion of either board aboutits point of connection to the bumper. However, since the pressureagainst the loWer rear edge Of one mold board or the other, may undersome conditions be quite severe, and since these edge portions are at aconsiderable distance below the bumper connections, additional means ispreferably used to oppose such twisting effects, and to preventtransverse thrusts at the lower rear portion of one board from causingthe rear portion of the other board to tilt up and rise out of position.This means, with the example shown in Figs. 1-3 may take the form oftensioned stays as at 60, BI. These stays may be formed of smallflexible wire cable or as shown, of lengths of chain, which may betensioned as by turn buckles Yet when the plow it. The outer ends of thestays 60, it may be connected asshown in Figs. Zand 3 toeyeholts as at63' on, the inner faces the mold; [warm at points intermediatethcir'length, which points are preferably somewhat higher than thenormal points of attachment or the moldboards; to the bumper. From thesepoints the stays 61F, it respectivelymay pass transversely of the plowdownwardly to eyebolt connections as at on the braces 50, 5 I 'Ihus ifa; transverse: force is applied to the lower edge. 01' the rear portion:of one of the mold boards tending to twist such; portion inwardly aboutits bumper connection, such tendency will be resisted by the stay whichis. attached to such mold board above the pivotal. point comprising thebumper connection. That is; the stay 6| in effect: serves to connect thelower rear and intermediate portions of the mold board 20 to the upperintermediate area of the mold board l9, and similarly the stay 60*serves to connect the upper middle portion of mold board 20 to the lowermiddle and rear'portions of the mold board l9. Since the lower end" ofstay I is connected to brace: 50 and stay' (it is similarlyconnected tobrace 5 Litwillibe-apparent that incollapsing the plow, upon removingbrace bolts 52, the stays and braces may all be swung forwardly withoutdisconnecting the stays. Similarly, in setting up the plow again, the.braces may be swung into position and bolted together. with the staysstill connected and without necessarily readjusting the" stays. Ifdesired, the stays 60, El may be tensioned sufficiently to normally warpthe upper edges of the mold board somewhat inwardly, and hence due tothe rigid braces and minated just short of the lower sector shaped' webmember 38 at the forward end of the plow; Small portions or the rearlower corners or the mold boards are preferably cut off along a diagonalas at 61 (Figs. 2, 1i) so that the plow may be drawn backwards whendesired to a. limited' extent without jamming against the earth orobstructions on the ground; As shown, the strip- 66 also preferablyextends up along the resulting diagonal edge.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig 14: may be the same asthatabove described except for the bracing and stay means. In. this forma. pair of crossed transversely extending stays as at 10, H, are shownhaving their ends connected to vertically extending angle irons or barsas at 12,, 13, riveted respectively to the mold boards 19; 20intermediate the ends of the latter. The members l2, 13 will serve tokeep the mold boards relatively flat and rigid and prevent the loweredges from being flexed inwardly unless. the upper dges are at the sametime flexed outwardly. And the latter action may be prevented by thestays 10, 1| acting in conjunction with the bumper connecting means. Thestays 10, H may be supplemented if desired by braces 50, 5| as in thecase of Fig. 1.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect toparticular preferred examples, it will be understood by thos skilled inthe art after understanding the invent-ion that assaeao various changesand modifications may be: made without departing from the spirit andscopea! the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appendedclaims to cover? such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be. secured: by Letters Patent'ls:

I. A collapsible snow plow adapted to be" de tachabl'y connected. tomotor vehicle bumpers at types having ends curved toward thevehicle,comprising a pair oi mold; hinge means'constructed. and arranged torinterconnecting the forward ends thereoi whereby the boards may bepositioned on edge in either an adjustable v formation or brought intogenerally parallel: relation upon collapsing the plow, said boards eachbeing of a width to normally extend from adjacent the ground to ahcightabovethe bumper, inside surface areas of: the rear portions. of theboards being adapted to extendsubstantially tangentially past thecurved; bumper ends respectively, and detachable: connecting: means oneach said area. and positionedbetween saidarea; and the adjacentbumperend to retain such area and end. in close proximity; thereby alsodetermining the angular adjustment of hinge means, said latterconnecting means also being constructed and arranged. with the boards torigidly retain both the forward and. rear portions of theplow' againstmovement transversely of the path of boards being; adapted to: extendrearwardly past the bumper ends respectively, and thrust transmittingbumper connecting: means on each: said area, positioned between. saidarea and the adjacent bumper end and constructed andarranged to retainsuch. area and end in close proximity, thereby also determining theangular-adjustment of said hinge means.

3. A collapsible snow plow comprising a pair, of mold boards, hingemeans constructed and arranged for interconnecting the forward endsthereof whereby the boards may be positioned on edge in either a Vformation, or in generally parallel relation upon bringing the innersurfaces of the boards closer together to collapse the plow, the rearend portions of the boar-debeing constructed and arrangedto' provideflooren-gag-ing' supports to hol the plow when collapsed in stablevertical position for storage with the hinged ends uppermost, a pair ofcomplementary transverse brace members, and hinge means connecting saidmembers respective-Fr to the inner surfaces of the mold boards interlindiate the ends of the boards, saidlatter hinge means and said membersbeingconstructed and arranged topermit the members to be swungforwardly,to positions substantially parallel to and between themold boards uponcollapsing: the plow.

45. A snow plow ad pted to be detachably' connected to motonvehiclebumpers of types honing supporting" bracesnormally bolted to the rec/rsurfaces of the bumper end portions, comprising f in-coxnbinationreyelet mean's adapte'd respectively to be bolted: cm thefront surfaces'of the bumper sends-b3" means which alsoboltsaidbraces to the'r-rear--:surfaees, a pair "of mold boards secured toether at theirforward'*ends, in a V formation, sand pin means-secured in generallyvertical posi- -tion onz zthe-insidesurface of the'rear portion ofeach-mold 1 board *and embraced respectively by safd-eyeletrmeans.

3'5. -Asnowl-plow adapted to be detachably conrnecte'd-to motor-vehiclebumpers of types haviing supporting'braces normally bolted to the rearsurfaces of the bumper-end portions, comprising incombination: 'a pairof mold'boards secured together at their forward ends, in a V formation,connecting-means on theinside surface area of the rear portion of each.boardrespectively-and common means 'forsecuring said braces respec--tively to 'the'rear -surface of the bumper ends whiledetachablysecuring said-connecting means to the front surface of thebumper ends.

*6. i k-collapsible"snowplow comprising a pair of mold boards, hingemeans constructed and arranged for interconnecting the forward endsthereof whereby the boards may be positioned on edge in either a Vformation, or in generally parallel relation upon bringing the innersurfaces of the boards closer together to collapse the plow, and a nosepiece comprising an upstanding metal channel member of generally V-shaped cross section pivotally secured by the pintle structure of saidhinge means, said nose piece and forward ends of the boards being soconstructed and arranged with the hinge means that said ends retain thenose piece against substantial pivotal movement when the boards are in Vformation, yet leaving the board ends free to permit the boards to bebrought into said parallel relation while the nose piece remains thuspivotally secured.

'7. A snow plow construction adapted for detachable connection withautomobile bumpers, comprising a pair of mold boards, means forattaching the front ends of said mold boards to each other, and separatemeans for independently attaching the rear ends of each of said moldboards directly to the bumper near the ends thereof, said meansconstituting a rigid thrust transmitting connection between the plow andthe automobile adapted to transmit forward thrust and to resist sidewiseand diagonal stresses applied to the plow in use, said attaching meansbeing adapted to permit the rear ends of said mold boards independentlyto rise and fall vertically.

8. A snow plow construction adapted for detachable connection withautomobile bumpers, comprising a pair of mold boards, means forattaching the front ends of said mold boards to each other, hingeelements secured to the rear ends of said mold boards, hinge elementsadapted to be fixed to the bumper, and pins passing through said hingeelements to attach said mold boards to the bumper, said hinge elementsand hinge pins constituting a rigid thrust transmitting connectionbetween the plow and the automobile adapted to transmit forward thrustand.

"of said-"mold boards, hingeelementsadapted to be secured to the bumper,the vertical space between said upper and lower hinge elementsbeing-greater than the vertical height of the hinge -element-secured tothe bumper, and pins passing 'throughsaid hinge elements to attach saidmold boards to the bumper.

10. A snow plow construction adapted for de- '*tachable-connection withautomobile bumpers, 'comprisingapair of'mold boards, means forpivotallyattachingthe front ends of said mold "thrust 'and' to resistsidewise and diagonal stresses applied to .the plow in .use and'adjust-"able'bracingmeans' extending transversely across said plow and attachedat its ends to said mold boards to hold said mold boards in the desiredposition of adjustment.

11. A snow plow construction adapted for detachable connection withautomobile bumpers, comprising a pair of mold boards, means forattaching the front ends of said mold boards to each other, separatemeans for independently attaching the rear ends of each of said moldboards directly to the bumper near the ends thereof, said meansconstituting a rigid thrust transmitting connection between the plow andthe automobile adapted to transmit forward thrust and to resist sidewiseand diagonal stresses applied to the plow in use, and adjustable bracingmeans extending transversely across said plow, hinge elements on saidbracing means, hinge elements on said mold boards, and pins passingthrough said hinge elements to attach said bracing means to said moldmeans.

12. A snow plow comprising, in combination, a pair of mold boards, ahollow V-shaped head having angularly disposed side panels connected attop and bottom by generally horizontal webs, said webs being providedwith aligned apertures, mating hinge elements on the forward ends ofsaid mold boards, hinge pintle' means passing through said apertures andthrough said hinge elements, said hinge elements and the forward ends ofsaid mold boards being entirely enclosed within the outlines of saidhead, each of said mold boards being adjustable on said pintle meansfrom a position parallel to one of said panels to a position parallel toeach other.

13. A collapsible snow plow comprising a pair of mold boards, hingemeans constructed and arranged for interconnecting the forward endsthereof, the axis of said hinge means being offset inwardly of the innerfaces of said boards whereby the boards While maintaining the hingeconnection may be positioned on edge in either a spaced generallyparallel relation upon collapsing the plow or in a V relationship foruse, a metal nose piece substantially covering said forward ends andpivotally secured in place by the pintle structure of said hinge meanswhen the boards are in either of said relationships, and collapsiblemeans secured on the inner faces of said boards intermediate the endsthereof for retaining the boards in use, in the desired V relationship,the spacing of said boards when in said generally parallel relationbeing sufficient to accommodate said latter means when col- 7 lapsed.

14. A snow plow adapted to be detachably connected to motor vehiclebumpers, comprising a pair of mold boards, means for interconnecting theforward ends thereof in a V formation while in use, a runner forsupporting said forward ends, and bumper attaching means for supportingthe rear portions of the boards normally with at least apredeterminedslight spacing from the ground and for securing suchportions closely adjacent the end portions respectively of the bumper,said attaching means being articulated with respect to a transversehorizontal axis to permit the forward end of the plow as supported bysaid runner, to rise and fall, and said attaching means being rigid indirections fore and aft to constitute rigid thrust transmitting meansfrom each end of the bumper and acting conjointly to resist sidewisestresses applied to the plow in use.

15. A snow plow adapted to be detachably connected to motor vehiclebumpers, comprising a. pair of mold-boards, means for interconnectingthe forward endsnthereof in a Viformation while in use, said boards eachbeing of a width to normally extend from adjacent the ground to a heightabove thebumpeninside surface areas of the rear portions of theboards'beingadapted to extend crearwardly past the bumperendsrespectively, thrust transmitting bumper connect- HOWARD B. CHURCHILL.

